OK so I got my hair done. Jen was super nice. It was different than I expected--not very much cut actually.

I can now say I do not like the Deva products. I bought the Angell and the low poo. I liked them initially but as the day has gone on now they are definite "no's". My hair has gone back to the way it was before CG--dry, limp, lifeless, with a reduction in curl (pretty dramatic to m!) It's flat and smooth and icky. I was a bit worried about that since I figured out both products have the A cone (preceded by a PEG so water soluble)--but I'll let my daughter or son try them as their hair doesn't react to cones like mine does (she is a completely different type of curly than me and has much longer hair and much more of it and my son has super short hair so no worries with flat--his has lots of volume already!)

Overall I'm not too sure about this. I was disappointed when I got home as my hair, by then, had gone very very flat and smooth with just barely noticable waves (vs. the ringlet's I had going in). Maybe my hair is too short for a Deva cut?

I just had very very high hopes---probably unrealistic but I still feel kind of bummed. I'll update once I've had a chance to wash and style with my own products and not the Deva ones.

I know I just need to get my hair to grow a bit but I realized now that actually I think I prefer it shorter! I actually think CG makes my hair grow faster..I just hadn't realized it since I got a lot more shrinkage when I do my hair..my hair after the Deva style today (way less curly) looks much longer than I thought!

Okay, so I got my hair cut with Jen a few days ago and I actually like it! I do agree that she did not cut a lot off-- I was actually hoping to go a little shorter, but she advised me not too. After I had the deva products in my hair I thought it was pretty but I really wanted more layering around my face. The front looked good, but not that much improvement, however the back was way improved. When I got home, my sister didn't even realize I had gotten my haircut, because the style wasn't that much different. I freaked out. I had just spent a lot of money (my own, too, not my parents) on a haircut that wasn't different! AACK! I decided that I was immediately going to wash out the deva products and see how I liked it when I styled myself.

I liked it a lot better, and I hope that the same goes for Alexjoujou's haircut. I still would've liked it if I had more layers around my face though, so I called Jen and she said that she could fix it for me if I wanted.

She was the most knowledgeable hair dresser I have ever had. Just when she told me not to use sodium laureal sulfate I was sold. No hair dresser has ever told me that, let alone use sodium laureal sulfate-free products on my hair. I also liked how long she spent on my hair. In all, it was an hour and forty five minute hair cut (including the complimentary deva set). She's also very nice, and will talk with you about things that you want to hear (for example I asked her how she got started with curly hair, and her training, etc. and not about her latest break-up ).

She told me to come back in three months, which I don't think is a possibility given my budget, but I think I will go back to her again...unless I try this new trend on nc.com about cutting your own hair. Although that sounds a bit scary...

If I do see her again, I think i will try to be a bit more firm on what I want specifically, I forgot the pictures that I had printed out of Emmy Rossum's hair at home. I'm hoping that I can go back so she can cut a few curls around my face- hopefully free of charge. *please, please*

I really think she should go on this website as it would broaden her expertise beyond the deva products. This is the place where curlies are going to see how to style their hair, and this would be an opportunity for her to get to know more about curly hair, and about her clients. I suggested it to her, but I don't know if she'll actually go on.

Anyway, I'm on vacation now, so I haven't been doing a lot of experimenting or styling my hair, but I will post pics soon (my avatar is the day of the cut, with the deva products in). I want to try flax seed gel with my leave-in conditioner. I love experiments that work out!

Your hair is very similar to my daughters. In fact you could be hair twins!

I re-did my style today. At first it was still producty so I added more leave in (I almost never have to add any leave in!). Used my homemade FSG and then BRHG. It was o.k.

I have this ringlet right smack dab in the middle of my forehead..I look like a distant relative to a rhino or something I think cuz she cut just a bit at the front.

I also wanted more face framing curls--her advice was that it would look better (given my round face) with more of a bob look. I'm still not sure about that.

I'm happier tonight. After all day out in the humidity and rain it is quite curly now and I have some volume. I think I need to move to FL--my hair loves humidity! I don't get frizz it just gets volume which is cool.

Anyway I really like how she cut the back--it lays much better now. Like you the front is a so-so and I feel probably more should have been cut.

I hope she fixes it for you at no cost--that would be excellent. I agree she was very knowledgable and certainly knows how to use products. I also found her clipping immensely helpful to me.

After 24 hours of reflection I would say I like it--don't love it. I really think more layers near my face would help out the volume. I may go back in 3-4 months depending on growth but, like you, I think I'll do more research before to know more what I want---this was a new experience for me.

Been away from this board for a while... Now that I'm curly I only need 1-2 cuts/yr. I was glad to come on here and see some new stylists recommended. I'm thinking MaryAnn or Jen might be next.

As for my reviews:

I did go to Kate at Hairspray but can't remember exactly when... fall or winterish, I think. Overall I liked the experience and the cut was great. I was not as impressed with the styling though... seems that is really the hard part with us curlies. She has just slightly wavy hair so she might not realized that for a 3b LOTS more product is needed than just a couple of smooth overs, and she didn't apply section by section. I left looking OK but soon after started seeing the frizzies. I would consider going back cuz the cut and price were good and if I asked for more product and directed the styling a little more she would prob be fine with it. One extra perk... I finally got to check out the Bronx Pizza everyone raves about and it was good!

Just before Summer got going, I went to Jocelyn at the Dearinger in La Jolla. She is not a curly but has a very good eye and pretty good with the styling. I only say that because the first time I went a couple of years ago she actually gave me great advice on styling and techniques that I still use. I expected her to do the same this time but for some reason she deviated a bit by messing with my hair a bunch after dry which made it into a giant pouf. To me the main thing is the cut and I do recommend her for that though she has gotten a lot pricier now that she is a "master stylist" or something like that and I don't think I can afford it anymore.

Next I would like to try a curl specific salon like Deva, though I tried their products and it didn't work for me. I'd probably try to remember to bring my own (Aveda).

OK, all from me for now... I'll keep checking to see how it is all going for you ladies.

I'm not much for posting, but the stylist I found isn't mentioned here, and he really deserves a shout-out.

Going back a bit, I moved to SD about a year ago and the first couple of cuts I had were from Kate at Hairspray. She really is super nice, and was enthusiastic about cutting curly hair, but I was sort of "meh" about the results. She tended to style it by twirling it in clumps, which is simply way more effort than I will ever make (yep, I'm lazy). I also had a problem with the way the front was cut. My hair tends to fall forward in my face, and the angle she cut looked great with it pushed back out of my face, but inevitably the hair fell forward and created this sort of triangle on the side of my head. Not so pretty. Even after I explained this and she tried to correct it, I had the same problem. So again, I really liked Kate, I just don't think her cutting style worked with my hair.

The next time I needed a cut, Kate had left Hairspray (sorry I don't have her new salon, she sent an email, but I've since deleted it. It's somewhere in Northpark--hopefully someone will come here and post the info). This seemed to me to be a good time to try someone new. I initially made an appointment with Susan Kende for the first available time--two months out. Ugh. About a month before the appointment, I couldn't take it. My hair was going up in a miserable bun every single day and something had to be done. So I poked around and actually looked on the Deva website for stylists in my area. Lo and behold, there's a listing for Keiffer Skipper, who happens to be at Hairspray. I was able to get an appointment for the next day and I'm so glad!

Keiffer recently returned to San Diego after working at the Devachan salon in New York for a year! If you're at all interested in trying the Deva methods, he followed them to a T. He spent a long time dry-cutting the individual curls, then painted on the highlights. He styled using the deva method with paper towel drying and clips on top, then he spent even more time cutting individual curls until it was just right. It's been a couple of months since the cut, and I'm still thrilled. I can pretty much do my wash-and-go styling and have it look decent, if not quite as perfect as the salon. No more triangle head! He said I wouldn't need a cut for 6 months, although I will need my highlights done.

I've never been overly concerned about the method used to cut my hair, as long as the results are there, but now I really understand the hype about the devacurl thing. And Keiffer really did it right. His prices are very reasonable, too (especially considering I only need 2 cuts a year). And like I said, since he is just back in SD he doesn't have a huge customer base and getting an appointment is easy. Also, I don't love the Devacurl line, but if that's your thing, he's got them carrying it at Hairspray now.

I'm looking for a new hair cut, and I wasn't enthralled with Jen's. She was very nice, friendly, and polite, and I do think she helped my hair, but she didn't change anything very much. I want short layers around my face, gradually getting longer (my hair is BSL right now). I asked for layers, but maybe I wasn't specific enough? I'm confused why I wasn't raving about Jen like everyone else was... What did you tell her before the cut? Did anyone else get layers around their face that they were happy with? I don't know if I should go back or not...

Has anyone ever been to the Tamales hair salon in Point Loma? They said "curly hair specialists" on their window... They don't have any yelp reviews, though.

And what about Mary Ann? What salon is she at right now? Any luck with her?

I totally agree. I won't be returning either--I did tell her I wanted a CUT..what I really got was a trim..not a bad one but not really worth the $65 either IMHO. The styling..forget it..my hair requires a LOT more manipulation than a Deva cut will do..I'm just going to tell them next time flat out!

I did express I wanted more face framing layers as well.

I got a cut in November from Struttswife..but its not really realistic to think I can fly off to FL to get a cut. She did an excellent job! Now I feel like i KNOW what it should be like. AND she showed me how to do face framing layers myself which was cool (just up front). I just did my own again a couple of days ago..my problem is my back is overshooting the bottom ringlet's again. I do not think I can ever let my hair get longer..It turns very straight at the canopy and the longer my hair at my nape gets the more ringlet's it gets which bounce up..Its just a yuck look. Yuck.

My hair has already grown about 1/2 inch since my henna..and it is almost 2 months since my Struttscut so I am where you are..trying to figure it out!

I have no idea either. Hopefully someone will chime in.

Otherwise I'm going to go up to SF to get mine done from Bebe that Jillipoo and Gekko go to..she does a really good job.

I was just in with Jennifer this afternoon, I had her cut off the last of my highlighting damage. That was a good 5 or 6 inches, on average, and she did a great job with it. So I don't think she's afraid to cut when needed.

I do know that she once told me that especially with new clients she'll be a little conservative where cutting is concerned unless they're very clear about exactly how much they want off. She said that's because so many have had bad experiences in the past with saying they want so much off and then getting SOOOOO much cut by the stylist, that she doesn't want to traumatize anyone. And I have found that I get a better result when I actually show a stylist where I want how much off, actually on my curls and relative to points on my body -- instead of saying it in inches, which can be relative in peoples' minds. (Which I think is another reason she's conservative with the cutting at first too.) I do that with Jennifer. Maybe that's one of the reasons she always cuts pretty much how much I tell her to.

Either way, though, I hope you find a cut you like. I have no idea if MaryAnne (sp?) is still at her old salon if you're still looking to try her too. I never got around to trying her and it's been a long time since I checked. Have you guys checked the Deva salon finder to see what salon she's listed at?

Thank you for your email. You can contact me directly at 619-756-4396 to schedule an appointment.

My haircuts are $60 and that includes a thorough consultation, cleanse/condition and style. Please come to your appointment with your hair in its most naturally curly state, you can wear product, but please no hairspray or anything that makes your hair sticky or stiff. Based on how you have described your hair care routine, this won't be a problem.

Thank you for your email. You can contact me directly at 619-756-4396 to schedule an appointment.

My haircuts are $60 and that includes a thorough consultation, cleanse/condition and style. Please come to your appointment with your hair in its most naturally curly state, you can wear product, but please no hairspray or anything that makes your hair sticky or stiff. Based on how you have described your hair care routine, this won't be a problem.

I got an email as well. I think I'm going to do this but probably in February. I need a bit of advance notice to do a M-F cut--take 1/2 day off of work. I prefer that to the weekend since the kids are in school

The price is very reasonable! $60 is actually not as much as Jen and its way less than some of the other ones. She sounds good!!

In this newsletter she reviews Hand Dry Hair Gloves, asks for info regarding any shelters that take opened hair care products (she collects them from clients to donate) AND talked about the water problem in San Diego and where our water comes from and to go buy a filter. How helpful!!!

Someone asked, way back in this thread about Michelle, (Sullivan) formerly of mermaids. she now has a home salon. she is curly. ,super reasonable, I think she only charged me 40.00 last year. My colorist just wet trims, and my hair got long, but blocky., losing curls. I told Michelle, I wanted all the damage trimmed off, and curl enhancing cut. She Deva cuts dry, spent a long time. But,(my fault) I was disapointed at how much she too off. The curl was great, lasted a loooooong time. didnt need a trim for almost a year. waited too long. colorist trimmed, looked funky. Was going to reschedule with Michelle(I have referred to others, who love her) and be explicit about length.BUT, I also got Beverly Neelands, newsletter, And loves what she has to say. and am going to make an appointment with her, also, waiting to hear rom you guys, first, though...good luck!